Eagles 7s High Performance Camp Prior to Wellington & Sydney

Today begins the USA Rugby Men’s Eagles Sevens High Performance Camp at the United States Olympic Committee’s Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. The camp will continue through Saturday January 16th.

Mike Friday and his coaching staff will put 20 athletes through their paces in order to determine who will travel to the HSBC Wellington Sevens and HSBC Sydney Sevens. All are residents at Chula Vista, except for Colorado State University’s Ben Pinkelman and capped Eagle Shalom Suniula.

The USA Falcons finished fourth at the American Sevens at Mar del Plata, Argentina. They now travel to the Seven de Viña del Mar in Chile for a tournament this weekend. A recap of the USA Falcons performance in the American Sevens is available by clicking the link.

The international competition provides opportunities to play against both national sides and core country developmental sides.

USA Rugby indicated “The message to the Falcons is clear: play yourself into the touring team for Wellington and Sydney,” Friday said. “If you don’t quite make it this time, enjoy the experience and learn so you are better prepared and able to compete come next Camp.

“There is nothing to stop a player on the Falcons tour from making the tour to Wellington and Sydney. We will take a view at the end of the Camp to consider how players have performed in Camp, together with the coach’s views from the touring Falcons. Competition for the final 12 will be fierce.”

Currently the Eagles Sevens are third in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Series with 29 points. They trail only last year’s first place team Fiji and South Africa who have 35 points.

In Wellington they will be in Pool C along side of 5th place England, 6th place France and 11th place Samoa. It is a long trip, but the Eagles 7s will look to continue to take on the world’s best. The Wellington tournament will be Jan. 30-31th, but due to time differences, matches in the United States will be Jan. 29-30.

The Sydney Sevens will be held the following week, Feb 6-7th and in the United State Feb. 5-6th.